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Timebinder, v. 1, Issue 1, 1944

Under such a plan, a man once elected President could and should cease to think of himself as a member of any particular party, and remember only that he is an American -- the Number One American by the choice and votes of his fellow countrymen. He thus would automatically cease to be the member, much less the head, of any party. He could devote all of his time and attention to usefulness to the whole of the citizenry, as Judges of the Supreme Court do. He could make appointments by worth, rather than the necessity of paying off political debts. Not that he would forfeit his ability to vote and speak as he pleased, but that he would not be allowed to "run" his party; nor be expected to choose officials on party standards only.

He would then be able to devote his entire time to the best interests of all the country, and not have to spend so much in building up his personal political machine to ensure his re-election. He would find that the lower officials, (I refer now especially to Congressmen and Senators), would be more apt to view his acts and decisions in the light of the best results for all people, rather than in a purely "party" mood, as they so usually do now. A good proposal would be backed because it was good, or fought because it was thought not-good, rather than because it was proposed by a member of the opposite party.

this would tend to raise the statesmanship of all our elected officials, which is certainly needed.

To start back at the beginning, after having glanced at the top, it seems to this observer that our public schools should place far greater emphasis than they do on the teaching of the problems and procedures of statecraft. Our Civil Government, or Civic studies for children are very inadequate in the teaching of those who are to grow up to become the adults who will have the task of governing themselves by the ballot. The present courses give a wee smattering of political history, a cursory listening of the various official titles of the city, county, state and nation, together with the barest outline of their duties.

They do not, except in the very, very rare instances where the teacher has a glimpse of what Americanism truly means, teach our adolescents the deep, inner meanings of his citizenship, nor the pride that should be his because of its inherent possibilities. If this were done as it should be done, there would not be possible the "bossim" and "political gangsterism" so prevalent recently, but which is, happily, declining somewhat."

But there is still far too much of that "bossim", and there are far to vast numbers of citizens who do not have

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Under such a plan, a man once elected President could and should cease to think of himself as a member of any particular party, and remember only that he is an American -- the Number One American by the choice and votes of his fellow countrymen. He thus would automatically cease to be the member, much less the head, of any party. He could devote all of his time and attention to usefulness to the whole of the citizenry, as Judges of the Supreme Court do. He could make appointments by worth, rather than the necessity of paying off political debts. Not that he would forfeit his ability to vote and speak as he pleased, but that he would not be allowed to "run" his party; nor be expected to choose officials on party standards only. He would then be able to devote his entire time to the best interests of all the country, and not have to spend so much in building up his personal political machine to ensure his re-election. He would find that the lower officials, (I refer now especially to Congressmen and Senators), would be more apt to view his acts and decisions in the light of the best results for all people, rather than in a purely "party" mood, as they so usually do now. A good proposal would be backed because it was good, or fought because it was thought not-good, rather than because it was proposed by a member of the opposite party. this would tend to raise the statesmanship of all our elected officials, which is certainly needed. To start back at the beginning, after having glanced at the top, it seems to this observer that our public schools should place far greater emphasis than they do on the teaching of the problems and procedures of statecraft. Our Civil Government, or Civic studies for children are very inadequate in the teaching of those who are to grow up to become the adults who will have the task of governing themselves by the ballot. The present courses give a wee smattering of political history, a cursory listening of the various official titles of the city, county, state and nation, together with the barest outline of their duties. They do not, except in the very, very rare instances where the teacher has a glimpse of what Americanism truly means, teach our adolescents the deep, inner meanings of his citizenship, nor the pride that should be his because of its inherent possibilities. If this were done as it should be done, there would not be possible the "bossim" and "political gangsterism" so prevalent recently, but which is, happily, declining somewhat." But there is still far too much of that "bossim", and there are far to vast numbers of citizens who do not have 21